Hoffrogge getting ready for next step

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/03/2020 (2301 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jacob Hoffrogge has a plan for his next training camp with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The smooth-skating 17-year-old defenceman, who played in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League last season with his hometown Saskatoon Contacts, plans to work his way onto the roster.

“I’m just going to try to do what I did last year and the year before that, try to work my (butt) off and really show the coaching staff and even the players who were on the team last year that I can play in that league,” Hoffrogge said. “I’m definitely going to work this summer on getting way bigger and stronger than I was last year. Definitely I’m going to bring the same energy that I had and even a little more. This time I really want to be on the roster.”

In 43 regular season games, Hoffrogge scored once and added 25 assists with 40 penalty minutes. At the prestigious Mac’s Tournament in Calgary, he collected three points in four games. The American-born youngster also played five games at the USA Select-16 tournament, garnering an assist.

“Overall I thought I was pretty good,” Hoffrogge said. “I really liked it. I was definitely trying to be more offensive this year in my second year. I got more points than I did last year, so I liked that. I worked on things with my skills coach over the summer to get faster and a little bit bigger.”

He always received a lot of special teams play.

Wheat Kings assistant general manager Doug Gasper said Hoffrogge impressed.

“He’s a very skilled offensive player, great skater with good quick feet, has a high compete level for us and really did well with 28 points this year,” Gasper said. “He moves the puck very well, runs their power play. His offensive skill is really evident, game in and game out.”

Hoffrogge said his team had a good start, winning an early tournament, and during a three-game winning streak to begin the season, Hoffrogge piled up five assists in his first two outings.

The Contacts, who Hoffrogge believes to be one of the youngest teams in the 12-team league, finished 30-12-2-0, good for third place.

In the playoffs, the Contacts swept their northern rival Prince Albert Mintos in their best-of-five quarterfinal, but then fell 3-0 to the Moose Jaw Warriors in the semifinals. Their Game 3 loss came on March 17, the final night that games were played in the league.

“I thought we played good but we just couldn’t get our chances or the bounces that wanted and finish off,” Hoffrogge said. “Everyone was in the same boat so I guess it ended for everyone but I thought our season was really good. I liked my teammates and our coaching staff.”

The 41st overall pick in the 2018 Western Hockey League draft, who has signed with Brandon, said the experience he gained at two prospect camps and two rookie camps has helped. It’s especially true when the veterans take to the ice, because it shows where the next level of play is it.

“It helped me a lot because playing against bigger guys in the WHL puts everything in perspective,” Hoffrogge said. “You probably can’t rush it end to end like in midget but coming back I definitely liked the physical attributes. You can win battles easier (in midget) and the competition in the WHL, everyone battles and is probably bigger or just as big as you. You can definitely bring the competitiveness back to midget.

“You feel more confident in your play because you can do a little bit more in midget.”

He also received some guidance from the Wheat Kings brass on the ways he could improve his game over the winer. He took that advice to heart.

“I had to get my shot way harder and I definitely did that,” Hoffrogge said. “Even in my backyard, but after practice and before I would just go on the blue-line and take shots and try to get more accurate and harder. I’m also getting stronger in the gym, but also battling harder with a little bit more intensity.”

With a long off-season ahead in these uncertain days, Hoffrogge plans to do what he has to at home to prepare for next season. He wants to be a Wheat King for his 17-year-old season.

“I feel like everyone is in the same boat, every D-man who is coming back,” Hoffrogge said. “I just feel like I’m putting in the work here. I’m not quarantined but I do have weight workouts here at home. I can use that to my advantage, plus shooting in the backyard and stick handling, stuff like that.

“I feel like I have a good shot and I really want to show what I can do.” 

» This is the 11th story in a 12-part series on Brandon’s top prospects.

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @PerryBergson